Taiwan to inspect all imports of US beef tongues

The import of beef tongues from the US will require authorisation from Taiwan and the product should be inspected batch-by-batch, according to a Taiwanese economic official.

Therefore, the importation of the other beef parts mentioned are technically allowed under the category of bone-in beef, which does not require special permission and is subject only to random checks, the official said.

However, the official added, Taiwan is insisting on special permission and batch-by-batch inspection for the importation of those products because of safety concerns among local consumers.

Washington's announcement on April 16 regarding the export of US beef tongues to Taiwan was made only after it agreed to Taiwan's terms, the official said.

In other words, the official said, importers will be required first to obtain a US phytosanitary certificate and health certificate before bringing beef tongues into Taiwan, he said. Then they would have to apply for import permission in Taiwan and agree to batch-by-batch inspection of the products by Taiwan inspectors before the beef tongues could be put on the local market, the official added.

A health official confirmed that every case of imported US beef tongues will be opened and inspected. The first batch of the other beef parts will also be inspected in the same way, but if they pass the checks, only 5% of the cases in subsequent shipments will be inspected, the official added.

According to a local beef importer, US beef tongues and tails are unlikely to see good sales because they are not that popular among local consumers, and the same products from Australia and New Zealand cost much less.